PROPERTY OR LAND SEARCH IN LAGOS

PROPERTY OR LAND SEARCH IN LAGOS

In general, the primary goal of doing a land search and validating a property's title is to determine if the land has a solid root of title or, if not, to find any flaws. Conducting a search at the Land Registry is the appropriate way to confirm land in Lagos State. In order to perform appropriate searches and investigations for land transactions, this article aims to make clear the steps that must be taken. In Lagos, people employ a variety of methods to confirm the ownership of land, including:

SEARCHING AT THE LAND REGISTRY ALAUSA LAGOS

There are land registries in every state across the country. In Lagos, the Land Registry for Lagos is located at the Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. The registry is in charge of maintaining documents relating to land within its territory. Only properties that have been registered with the government of the state can be verified at the land registry. Therefore, when you conduct a land search at the land registry, the true owner of the land would be revealed and any encumbrance such as government acquisition, mortgages, or any form of leasehold on the property would also be made known.

CONFIRMATION OF SURVEY AT OFFICE OF THE SURVEY-GENERAL

When completing a confirmation of survey at the Surveyor-office, General's the coordinates specified in the survey plan are used to confirm the location of the land in question. How should one proceed? Using the coordinates and survey plan for a specific piece of land, you can submit an application to the office of the Surveyor-General to inquire about the registration and availability status of that land. This stage of the procedure will inform you of the status of the land acquisition by the government and the validity of the land's survey plan.

SEARCHING AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC)

Conducting a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is for cases where the vendor of land or the land’s previous owners is a company incorporated with the CAC. A search here will reveal whether there is an encumbrance or charge registered in CAC in respect of the company’s assets. This is an important stage as companies often times acquire properties and incorporate them with the CAC.

SEARCH AT THE PROBATE REGISTRY

The ability to handle a deceased person's property is granted by legal documents that are issued by probate registries. It's crucial to conduct a search at the probate registry to learn whether any estates have received probate, who the administrators are, and to identify the executors of a testator in cases where assets belong to a deceased person's estate. The vendors lack the necessary power to sell or transfer a decedent's property until a grant of probate or letters of administration has been issued.

TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATION

It's also crucial to carry out a traditional search. When land is being sold or owned by a person, this is done to confirm the ownership. In this case, the neighbourhood and region where the land is located as well as the vendor's family are both looked into. It is important to confirm that all family members, including the family head, have given their agreement and that the family name is valid and cannot be revoked in circumstances where the land is subject to family or communal ownership.

PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE LAND

This verification is simply done when one goes to inspect the land in question physically. Physical inspection would establish the land's physical condition and show any flaws in the title to the land or property. Knowing the land's boundaries and verifying that it matches the coordinates or survey plan would also be helpful, as would knowing whether somebody is in control of the land through tenancy, leasehold, or even seizure by an anti-corruption agency.

NB: This article is not a legal advice, and under no circumstance should you take it as such. All information provided are for general purpose only. For information, please contact chamanlawfirm@gmail.com

WRITTEN BY CHAMAN LAW FIRM TEAM

EMAIL: chamanlawfirm@gmail.com

TEL: 08065553671, 08024230080